Automatic connector for train-pipes.



PATENTBD DEG. 3, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i Zigi f P. BBAHM.. AUTOMATIC CONNECTOR FOR TRAIN PIPES.

AMPLIOATIDN FILED JUNE 29, 1907.

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PATENTED DEC. 351907.

P. BEAHM.

AUTOMATIC CNNEGTOR' FOR TRAIN PIPES.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNI: 29. 1907. v

` a sHBETs-SHBBT 2 wvenfo'o attains? PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

, P. BEAHM. AUTOMATIC GONNEGTOR POR TRAIN PIPES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 190'1.'

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Wil moes PATENTED DNC. CN'CC?.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

` P. B'EAHM. AUTOMATIC CONNECTOR PCR TRAIN PIPES.

APPIIATION FILED JUNE 29. 1907.

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E# n ebow l PATBNTED DEG. 3, 1907.

P. BEAHM. l AUTOMATIC CONNECTOR FOR TRAIN PIPES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 190'?.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Wi b1 mozo afronta# vision of a coupler of this class, which can be AUNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

PETERBEAiEii/i, oF ALrooNA, PENNSYLVANIA.. l.

AUTOMATI CONNECTOR FOR TRAIN-PIPES.

Specication of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907 fApplication filed June 29y 1907. Serial No. 381.526.

T o all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, PETER. 13E-AHM, a' citizen of theUnited States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Connectors for Train-Pipes, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing, K

My present invention relates to improvements in automatic connectors for train pipes, and has s ecial reference to a new and improved coup er for air-brake, signal' and steam pipes upon passenger trains, and for air-brake pipes-*upon freight trains.

The main object of my invention is the provision of a deviceof this character which is connected vto and'supported entirely by the car coupler, and so constructed as to always be `below and in line with saidcoup ler, sothat Whenthe coupling is being made, the meeting or co-acting members of each coupler will engage simultaneously, and after the carcoupler is fast, the pipe couplerswill remain engaged until the car couplersagain art.

Another object of my invention, is the prolquickly applied toy any car coupler now in use, and by reason of its simple construction is no great burden upon the coupler.

Another obj ect of my invention is the provision of an automatic coupler, which will not necessitate the full equipment of a train with the same coupler, as this coupler is designed with vmeans whereby the general forms ofcouplers now in use can be attached to my automatic coupler, thus making my invention very. practical and ready for immediate use.

To this end, my coupler consists of a frame which is adjustably supported from the car coupler by connection withfthe-lnucklev pin and an adjustably alining device, the said frame having mountedtherein a sliding oarriage which 1s normally held projected by a spring. The carriage carries the pipe coup- 1ers, so that they normally -project beyond the outer end of thecar coupl'er, so-that when the adjacent ends of the cars come together the pipe couplers will contact each other slightly ahead of the ca'r couplers, which after theyare coupled, are held to etherby the spring-actuated carriages W ich are forced toward each other, and thus the pipe couplings are held in close engagement durloff'by means of the cotter pin 3.

ing the coupling of the cars, and do not become uncoupled until. the car couplers are separated a certain distance,- the frame being provided with limiting means whereby the projection of the carriage is stayed. Where my automatic coupler is mounted upon passenger cars, the carriage carries three alined couplings, 'that is one for the air-brake, one

-for the signal pipe and one for the steam heating pipe, whereas when mounted upon a freight car, the carriage carri/esonly the air-V brake pipe coupling. To more clearly illustrate the preferred form of my invention, attention is invited to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1y isla sideelevation of tWo complete carand automatic couplers just'before the operation of coupling. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same coupled, one of the automatic' couplers being in section. Fig. 3 is a view showing the forward end view of one coupler and the rear end view of the other, the steam-heating pipe connection of one., being in section. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of two coupled couplers, one of them being in section. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the couplers in the position it assumes when vconnected with an ordinary coupler, and Fig. 6 is "a side' elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings the letter A designates one car coupler and B the other or co-acting car coupler, while C and D, desyignate the two similarly constructed co-actgated knuckle pin 1,upon whose lower end is mounteda sleeve 2, held from sliding there- This sleeve 2 carries the substantially right-angled arm 4,

whose upper endisslotted as at 5, and has adjustablymounted therein the double-end- -ed clamp 6, whose single claw end 7, is adapted to the forward end 8, of the car coupler, while its T-shaped end 9, is adapted to en- 'gage thebody of the coupler-as at 10, and

=thus by means of the adjusting and clamping screw 11, securely hold the sleeve 2' against turning, so that the automatic coupler is alf wa s in alinement with the car cou ler. A rojecting rearwardly from the siceve 2, is a short -arm 12, which is yprovided' With'the pair of ratchet plates, 13, se arated by the slots `14, for the reception o the adjusting and clam ing bolts 15, which pass :through the said s ots and the slots 16, of the pair of outer endjof the coiled s ring,

ratchet plates 17, carried by the upperl forward end 18 of the frame 19. By this adjusting means the relative height at which the frame 419 is supported by the car coupler is maintained.

The framey 19, consists ofthe two parallel slotted members 20 and 21, which terminate in the reduced yoke 22, in which is mounted the coiled spring 23, seated upon the boss24; Slidabl mounted withinthe opposed recesses 25, oft e members 20 and 21, 1s the'vertical cross-bar or frame 26, which carries the."

winged boss 27, which. is received by the said boss having upon its outer face, t e knobbed stem 28,

'which is at alltimes contained in andin en-` gagement with the substantially spherical socket 29.. This socket 29 is carried Vby a stem 30, which is formed` integral with thecoupler-carrying frame or carriage 31, which is provided with the oppositel disposed c lindrical guidin stems 32 an 3,3, which t in and slide wit 'n the slots of the members 20 and 21, and form a pivot whereb the carriage may be swungto either allow,the coupler to bevused automatically or manually, as

`will presently appear. From this description 1t will be seen that the coiled spring normally projects the carriage, so that the train signal, pipe coup er 34, the central air-brake coupler 35, and the steam heating pipe coupler 36 will `normally project `beyond the l' farthest projection ofthe car coupler, this being clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

Formed integrally u on the forward portion of the stem 33, whlch by the way is hollow, is a lug 37, which is provided with a seat 38, to engage the st em or rojection 39, upon the forward end of the ower member 21.

4By this means the various couplers are limited in their forward movement, and to revent the carriage from turning and to ho dit in the desired relative position, I provide this seat -38 and stem 39, when the coupler is automatic, or I swing the carriage, as illus trated in Figs. 5 and 6,;where convoluted plate 40, has its seat 41 in engagement with the stem 39, and the couplers are turned to one side and held there by the actionfof the coiled spring and said .seating devices so that the ordinary couplers may be convenientlyv secured in place. i The plate 40 is cast integral with and upon the forward portion of the carriage 31. v

The carriage 1s provided with three obli uely'lparranged w ch is connecte the air-brakepipe 46 and the steamV heating pipe 47, respectlvely, said pipes being connected from below the carnage. Each one (ports 42, L13k-and f4.4, to

of these connections consist as clearl `illus-- trated in section, Fig. -2, of ya hollow all or head 48, rovidedwith the series of'ports 49,

i said 'hea being held against upward dislplacement by means of the plug 50, whichthe vtrain signal pipe 45,-

also holds the curved lower portion 571 of the head u on the lead lwasher or seat 52, mountedwit 'n thel lower portion of the enlarged endA of each ort 42, 43er 44. By this means it will e seen that the stem 5,3 carried by the head 48, is placed within the carriage after the .Washer has been lacedwithin the'portl and the plug 50 is isconnected. Byl this means I provide a balland socket connectionfor each train pipe, and the stems ",carried by each head 48fmay be connected to the various train pipes by means of an universal coupling. V

The central air brake coupler 35, is in communi'cation with the port 43, through the central 4chalmel or duct`54 of the carriage,

while thetrain signal pipe coupler 34 is in communicationwith the\poi"t 42, through the medium of the curved duct' 55, which eX- tends upwardly as' at 55', while the steam pipe coupler 36, is in communication with the port 44E, through the medium of the o positely curved channel or yduct 56. 'l' e ports 42, 43 and 44 are preferablyf made in one casting 57, and the mouths thereof are in the same vertical line, and are directly below and in line with the car coupler when the stern 39 and seat 38 are in engagement, and

in the mouth of each port is mounted the i soft metal coupling l58, each of which is preferably made of lead, and is forced in so as to fit snugly "within the mouth of each port. The outer faces 59, of each coupler is in the same'plane, so that tas the couplers come together each coupling 58, of the respective coupling members C and D, will contactJ simultaneously, and as they project 4beyond the ends of the car couplers A and B, they are seated before` the car couplers inally engage. The coiled springs will at all times hold the lead couplers together, and as the coupling members are so attached to thecar cou lers as to insure roper meeting, a practica automatic coup er is produced. Should, however, -the car coupler A be slightly to one side of the coupler B, and

`possibly a fraction lower, I form upon one side of the carriage the 'rectangular funnel guidel 60, whichterminates in the cylindrical @seating opening or sleeve 6l, for the reception of thejpointed cylindrical pin 62, carried by the other coupling member upon the same side as the guide 60. In other words,

each carriage is'provided with a guide 6() and a seating pm 62, and by means of the peculiar construction of the inclined walls of the guide, the pin no matter at whatdpoint it may contact either w all will be guide toward and into the sleeve 61, at which point the couplers engage, and are held in engagement during the period of engagement of the' car couplers.

As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the coup- 1ers A, are adjusted to be engaged by the ori dinary couplers, and by this means, the great couplers now in use, c

immediate discarding of the present equipobjection to the various automatic couplers heretofore .invented are overcome, as my automatic coupler is not necessarily applied to all the cars throughout a train, butv may be eifectually connectedflto the ordinary and-nb# necessitate the ment.

In order shown) may be attached to the train signal and air brake couplers, the carriage is turned so that the stem 39 engages the'seat 41 of the convoluted plate 40, at whichpoint the said couplers are the couplers, and are held inA such position by the coiled spring, which exerts the proper forward tension toaccomplish this result.

while the hooked lug 66, after the'lug 63 has' engaged the hooked lug 64, of the ordinary coupler, and the couplerA is turned, receives the lug 67, of the ordinary coupler, and by the said turning action, the ordinary coupler is locked to the'proper coupler of the carriage. That is the lugs of' the ordinary coupler are the same shape as those of the automatic cou ler 58, whereby the two yare locked by simp y placing their faces together with the lugs out of line; and then turning the ordinary coupler so as to bring a straight lug in engagement with a hooked lug, this beirg of general construction, and as now use The steam heating pipe is connected to the automatic coupler through the medium of x the short pipe 68, clearly illustrated in Figs.

3 and 4, which is connected to the stem 69, which is inserted through the coupling before the plug 7l is inserted. 'Ihe upper end of the s'tem is provided with a spherical head 72, having a series ofports' 73, which allow communication from the long pipe 74 to the coupler. Mounted within the coup# .lin 70, is a -lead Washer o r valve seat 75,

which with the lower portion of the head 72 provides a recess 7 6, Which is filled with a ubricant, for the joint, and as the openingV 77 ofthe coupling is provided with the downwardly and outwardly inclined walls, the

pipe '74 can rock in all directions without affecting the Working of the device. The upper end of the pipe 74 is connected to the cock 78, carried by the car, throughthe medium of the similarly constructed ball and socketcoupling 79, and it will be seen that any rocking motion of the car is provided for,v

and rubber hose is dispensed with. What I claim, as new, is:-

1. In combination witha car coupler .and

the train` pipes of a train, -of.an automat ic cou lei` for the pipes pivotally connected to the Iuckle pin of thecar coupler andhaving y that the ordinary couplers `(not,

moved to one side so as to be readily reached bythe party manipulating Adevice engaging adjustablemeans to hold the pipe couplings relatively to the carA coupler.

2. In combination with a car-coupler and the train pipes of a train, of an lautomatic coupler for said pipes, consisting of a frame, means for connecting the same to the coupler,l adjustable means for holding the same 1n a.relative,position to the car coupler, an adjustable means for Aholding the cou ling members of each coupler in horizonta corelation, and spring actuated couplers for the pipes carried by the frame.

3. In combination with'a car coupler and the train pipes of a train, of an automatic. coupler for said pipes, consisting of a frame, means for connecting the frame to the knuckle pin of -the car coupler,

adjustable means for holding the same in a'relative po-v sition to the car coupler', a carriage slidingly and'pivotally mounted within said frame, pipe couplers carried by saidI frame and in engagement with said train pipes, and means for projecting the carriage forward and ex ertin a tension 'in such direction.-

4. gIn an automatic connector for train pipes, the combination of a frame, a carriage. slidingly and pivotally mounted in said frame, and means for projecting the carria e and holding the connectorV either direct y orvsllard or to one side, for the purposeA set ort 5. In combination With a car coupler and the train pipes'of a train, of an automatic coupler .for the pipes1 consisting of a frame supported by the car coupler', a carriage slidingly and pivotally mounted and capable of transverse tiltin 'movement in said frame, couplers carried Iiy said carriage, and means forv projecting thefcarriage and holding the 'coupling either inv or out of line With the car coupler, for the purpose set forth.

v6. In combination with a car coupler and the .train pipes of a train, of an automatic coupler for the pipes, consisting of a frame, meansV forA attaching `the frame to the carcoupler, a carriage slidingly and pivotally movement in sai carriage, couplers carrie mounted ,andca able of transverse tilting- I by the carriage, means to limit the forwar and inclined osition of the carriage andalso to lock it cit er in a strai ht or inclined position, andA sprin actuate means for holdlng the carriage in tIie desired position.

7. In combination/With a car coupler and the train pipes of a train, ofan automatic coupler supported from the knuckle pin of the car coupler, and an adjustable clam ing the car coupler for hol in g the automatic coupler in relative alinement with the car coupler.

8. In combination with a car coupler and the train pi es of a train, offan automatic coupler for t e ipes, means connecting the automatic coup er to the knuckle pin of thel car coupler, and an adjustable means carried' bythe Aautomatic coupler and in detachable v engagement with the' body of the car coupler A whereby the couplers of the automatic coup- .car coupler.

ler retaln the same relative position with'the- 9. In" an automatic connector for train pipes, the combination of a frame, -means for securing the same to the car coupler and the' pipes, a carriage carrying the couplings for the pipes mounted in the carriage so that the' tor for the train pipe, ofmeans for supporting the connection from the coupler consisting of a member connected to the lower end o 4the pin,` a clamp extending forwardly and engaging the body 4,of the coupler to prevent turning of the connector, and a vertically adjustable connection between the connecting means and the automatic connector.

11. The combination with a car coupler,

of an automatic connector supported and carried by said coupler, and consisting of l a frame, a carriage pivotally and slidably car .ried in said fra-me, a spri fr holding the vcarriage orWaxI'lrI,

ried by the carriage, and means carried by.

for normally couplers jcareach. coupler, whereby said couplersmay be manually coupled to an ordinary coupler.

12. In com ination with a car coupler, of

an automatic connector `for the' train pi es 7 supported and'carrled by the car'coup er,

and consisti of a frame, a carriage plvot- Vally and slida '1y mounted in said frame', a

vall

socketed knob carried' upon the rear of the carriager-'a' spring mounted in the frame and carrying a'knob to :lit in said sockett and excrt a tension upon thecarria e to hold it forward and either in or out of ine With the car' coupler, and couplers carried by the carriage.

13. In combination with a lcar coupler, of

i an automatic connector -for the train pi es sup ortedY andv carried by the car coup er,

ly mounted in said frame, a socketed-knob carried' upon the rear of the carriage, a spring mounted in the frame and l carrying a knob. to lit in said socket and ex- I erta tension upon the .carria e to hold it for- Ward and either in or out of me with the car coupler, a pluralityof vertically arranged couplers carried in the forward endof the carria e, and means carried'by each coupler said couplers maypbfe' manually where dy couple to an ordinary coup 14. In combination with a car coupler, of

an automatic connector for train pi es supported and carried by the car coup er, andconsisting of a frame; -a carra e provided witha series of channels ltheret ough and pivotally and slidably -mounted in said ame, means for connecting said channels with the train pipes,.means carried at the forward end of the channels for connecting the train pipes of each car together, a spring consisti of a frame a carriage pivotally and slidlr) mounted' in the frame and 1n engagement with the carriage to hold the carria e for- 4ward and in or out of line with t e car coupler, and a connection between said car- Aria e Aand spring consistlng-I of a ball and soc et joint. Y In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of ltwo Witnesses. Y

'PETER BEAIIM.

' VVtneslses:-

Enwn DIErRIoH, Y CHRIST Gaim. 

